| Serving size | 1 tablespoon | 1.5 tablespoons | 2 tablespoons | 2 tablespoons |
| Calories | 80 | 145 | 110 | 120 |
| Fat/Fiber | 5g / 0g | 9g / 1g | 1g / 1g | 4g / 0g |
| Sugars/Sodium | 8g / 10mg | 17g / 18mg | 16g /85mg | 17g / 80mg |
| Carbs/Protein | 9g / 0g | 18g / 1g | 25g / 1g | 21g / 2g |
In this season of sweethearts, few foods say "I Love You" like chocolate-dipped strawberries. Instead of expensive roses or a box of truffles, why not treat your beloved to an easy, homemade dessert that looks anything but simple. We found four brands of chocolate fruit dip and enjoyed each one. Our panelists preferred the chocolate coatings that hardened around the berries, compared with the messier dips. But they all tasted pretty good. We sampled single strawberries, dipped in each variety of chocolate. Some of the chocolates had to be melted in the microwave beforehand, according to package directions.
Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
Product/Score
(out of 100)
Baker's/68
Dolci Frutta/65
Marzetti/48
Smucker's/45
Serving size
1 tablespoon
1.5 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
Calories
80
145
110
120
Fat/fiber
5g / 0g
9g / 1g
1g / 1g
4g / 0g
Sugar/sodium
8g / 10mg
17g / 18mg
16g / 85mg
17g / 80mg
Carbs/protein
9g / 0g
18g / 1g
25g / 1g
21g / 2g
Judges'
comments
Baker's
After melting these little chocolate discs, our panelists liked the way they coated the strawberries. They also liked the milk chocolate taste. Most said they would have preferred these if the chocolate hardened a bit more. The flavor, though, won them over. "The texture is very Hershey's — smooth, sweet and just the right shade of Buster Brown," one judge said. Baker's sells this in dark chocolate as well. A couple judges said the darker chocolate may give the flavor a needed boost.
Dolci
The strawberries dipped in this microwave-melted chocolate turned into a firm coating with a shiny glow. Judges raved about the look of their berries after a chocolate treatment from Dolci. "It's hard like the coating on an ice cream bar," one judge said. Another likened the chocolate shell to the "dip-top" chocolate he knew as a child. "The chocolate is very tasty," said another. "It reminds me of the chocolate you get in San Francisco," he said. "The color is rich and dark and it has a slight, peppery taste."
Marzetti
Very runny but tasty, said judges of this chocolate dip. Panelists compared it with chocolate sauce that also would work on ice cream or in a tall glass of milk. "It has a great, dark color," one judge said. "It's gooey and good," said another. He would have added salty pretzels to the dip as well.
Smucker's
Judges compared the flavor of this brand to chocolate pudding. "It's thick like a caramel with a lighter color. It reminds me of a bear from the Pacific Northwest," said one panelist. "This is good once, but way too sweet for multiple dips," another judge said. One suggested the sauce might be especially good in a warm fondue.
Would
they buy?
Baker's
Three of the four judges said yes.
Dolci
Three of the four judges said yes.
Marzetti
Two of the four judges said yes.
Smucker's
Two of the four judges said yes.
Shopping information
Baker's
$2.89 for a 7-ounce container from Publix.
Dolci
$2.79 for an 8-ounce container from Publix.
Marzetti
$3.49 for a 15-ounce container from Publix.
Smucker's
$2.49 for a 12-ounce jar from Target.
Panelists: Nan Jensen, registered dietician; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620; Jim Yockey, aesthetician at Anu You Institute in St. Petersburg; and Jeff Jensen, public information officer for the city of Treasure Island. All foods were tasted blind.
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